Gāyatrī

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Gāyatrī. A Hindu metre of 24 syllables, variously divided, but often 3 × 8. Many hymns in the Ṛg Veda are in this metre, one verse being of outstanding importance, and often called simply ‘gāyatrī’ (Ṛg Veda 3. 62. 10). Gāyatrī is then personified as the Goddess who presides over the three castes.